Apparatus for automatically processing photographic film or paper

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION PROVIDES APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM OR PAPERS IN SUCCESSION. A FILM OR PAPER TO BE PROCESSED IS RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO A ROD WHICH IS TRANSPORTED BY AN ENDLESS BELT TO A FORK ON ANOTHER ENDLESS BELT WHICH FORK CONVEYS THE ROD WITH THE FILM OR PAPER TRAILING BEHIND IT THROUGH A FIRST PROCESSING TANK. AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE FIRST TANK, THE ROD TOGETHER WITH THE FILM OR PAPER IS TRANSPORTED BY ANOTHER ENDLESS BELT TO A FORK ON ANOTHER ENDLESS BELT WHICH CONVEYS THE ROD AND FILM OR PAPER THROUGH A SECOND PROCESSING TANK. IN A SIMILAR MANNER, THE ROD AND FILM OR PAPER IS TRANSPORTED FOR PROCESSING IN A NEXT TANK. FINALLY, THE PROCESSED FILM OR PAPER IS PASSED THROUGH A DRYING CHAMBER WHENCE IT IS POSITIONED FOR REMOVAL FROM THE APPARATUS.

N v- 16, 1971 A. R. KENNINGTON APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS [NU PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM OR PAPER 4- Shoots-Shoct 1 Filed May 7, 1969 1971 A. R. KENNINGTON APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM OR PAPER 4 Shoots-Shout Filed May 7, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971 A. R. KENNINGTON 3,620,153

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY lROUl'lSSlNU PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM OR PAPER Filed May 7, 1969 4 13hccL:.;-.3h0o' 5 1971 A. R. KENNINGTON 3,620,153

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY vnoumssmu PHOTOGRAPHIG FILM OR PAPER Filed May 7, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM 0R PAPER Arnold Reginald Kennington, Ealiug, London, England, assignor to Donka N.V., Breda, Netherlands Filed May 7, 1969, Ser. No. 822,404

Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 8, 1968,

21,703/ 68 Int. Cl. G03d 3/12 US. CI. 9594 R 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides apparatus for processing photographic film or papers in succession. A film or paper to be processed is releasably attached to a rod which is transported by an endless belt to a fork on another endless belt which fork conweys the rod with the film or paper trailing behind it through a first processing tank. After passing through the first tank, the rod together with the film or paper is transported by another endless belt to a fork on another endless belt which conveys the rod and film or paper through a second processing tank. In a similar manner, the rod and film or paper is transported for processing in a next tank. Finally, the processed film. or paper is passed through a drying chamber whence it is positioned for removal from the apparatus.

This invention relates to apparatus for processing photographic film or paper which apparatus can be used to an advantage in the processing of cut sheets of any type of film or paper in sizes known to be commercially available. One particular use of the apparatus is in the processing of photographic films of the kind used for X-ray photography. Such films are usually processed in a series of deep tanks in which the follwing operations are performed in sequence, assuming that there are three tanks:

Tank 1Deve1oping Tank 2Fixing Tank 3Washing After the washing operation the film is dried, usually by hot air. The cycle of operations can be carried out by hand in which case the film is first fitted in a metal frame having spring clips to grip the edges of the film. Alternatively, the film can be processed automatically in a machine having a series of tanks in each of which is a number of rubber mangle type rollers. The film is fed between a pair of rollers and via a system of rollers and guides to the bottom of a tank where it is turned and transported to the top of the tank. The film is then deflected by guides to the next tank on which the film is subjected to a further processing operation and the sequence of operations is repeated through as many tanks as are necessary for the process.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for processing photographic film or paper which apparatus is fully automatic in operation, has the minimum of moving parts and lower maintenance requirements as compared with known apparatus for processing film or paper.

According to this invention apparatus for processsing photographic film or paper comprises a series of tanks in each of which a different process on the film or paper is performed, which apparatus is characterised in that the film or paper is transported through the tanks by means of belts.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described,

by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a hanger bar, partly broken away, which supports a plurality of spring clips from which a film is suspended for insertion in an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an inverted plan;

FIG. 3 is a an end view elevation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail showing means whereby a spring clip is attached to the bar;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail of one of the belts; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section showing a modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a hanger bar 1 of circular cross section has attached thereto a plurality of spring clips 2 which are preferably shaped as shown. The attachment of the clips to the bar may be effected by inserting the clips through holes 3 in the bar as shown in FIG. 4. The ends of each clip cross each other and are half-lapped as at 4 and are spring loaded together by the resiliency of the clip. By using a simple tool, the clips can be opened to receive one edge of a film 5 to be processed, the film being thus clipped between the lapped ends of the clips.

Referring to FIG. 5, the apparatus comprises side plates 6 which are retained in parallel and spaced relationship by transverse bars 7. Disposed between the plates 6 and retained in position by any convenient means are two tanks 8, but a practical working apparatus would have four or more tanks. In the instance of a complicated process such as that required for processing colour or reversal films the apparatus would have a relatively large number of tanks some containing a chemical and others water. The final tank in any process would normally be fitted with hot air jets or other means for drying a film after processing.

Near the top of the apparatus and close to each side plates 6 are three endless belts 9, 10, and 11, the belts being identical at each side of the apparatus. The belt 9 passes over four similar flanged pulleys 12, 13, 14 and 15 each having cogs 16 as shown in FIG. 7 which cogs co-operate with projections 17 provided on the belt. The pulleys 12, 13, 14 and 15 at both sides of the apparatus are mounted on common shafts 18, 19, 20 and 21 having bearings in the side plates 6. The belt 10, hereinafter referred to as a transfer belt, passes over three flanged and cogged pulleys 22, 23 and 24. The pulley 22 is mounted on the shaft 21 while the pulleys 23 and 24 are mounted on shafts 25 and 26 respectively. Similarly, the belt 11, hereinafter referred to as a transfer belt, passes over three flanged and cogged pulleys 27, 28 and 29 mounted on shafts 26, 30 and 31 respectively. Attached to the belts 9, 10 and 11 on each side of the apparatus are similar T-shaped members 32, 33 and 34 respectively, the belts 10 and 11 each having two such members.

Mounted on the shafts 21, 26 and 31 at the sides of the apparatus are similar flanged and cogged pulleys 35, 36 and 37 respectively, the pitch of the cogs being the same as that of the pulleys 12, 13, 14 and 15. At the bottoms of the two tanks 8 are pulleys 38 and 39 which are identical to the pulleys 35 and 36, while a pulley 40, disposed exteriorly to the tanks, is identical to the pulley 37. The pulleys 37 and 40 are located at a drying station for a film after it has been processed in the tank. Passing around each pulley 35, 36 and 37 and also around their associated pulleys 38, 39 and 40 respectively, at each side of the apparatus, are similar belts 41, 42 and 43 each having projections co-operating with the cogs of their associated pulleys. Fixed to the belts 41, 42 and 43 are fork members 44, 45 and 46 respectively.

An X-ray film for example, to be processed is attached to a hanger bar 1 in the manner previously described and the bar is placed on inclined ramps 47 one at each side of the apparatus. The bar with the film trailing behind it is then transported by the two laterally opposite T- shaped members 32 to guide plates 48, one at each side of the apparatus, along which the bar is moved to be located in the two laterally opposite fork members 44 fixed to the belt 41 which members convey the bar with the trailing film into and out of the first tank 8. During the conveyance of the bar it is retained in the fork members by two laterally opposite guide plates 49 each shaped as shown in FIG. 5. After passing through the tank, the bar is engaged by one of the pairs of oppositely disposed T-shaped members 33 carried by the transfer belts which members move the bar along two laterally opposite ramps 40 to be located in the pair of oppositely disposed forks 45 which transport the bar and its attached film through the second tank. After the film has been processed in the second tank, the bar is engaged by one of the pairs of oppositely disposed T-shaped members 34 carried by the transfer belts 11, which move the bar with its attached film along two laterally opposite ramps 51 to be deposited in the fork members 46 carried by the belts 43. The belts transport the bar with the film through a drying chamber 52. Finally, the bar with its film is deflected by oppositely disposed guide plates 53 and 54 to be deposited at the position indicated. The bar with the film attached can then be removed through opposite slots 55.

Since the pulleys and their associated belts are of the cog type, the T-shaped members and fork members carried by the belts can move in synchronism. Each of the belts 9, 41 and 42 has 60 projections 17 and each of the transfer belts 10 and 17 has 40 projections 17, while each pulley has 10 cogs. Thus, the transfer be'lts will traverse 1 /2 circuits during the time taken for the belts 9, 41 and 42 to complete one circuit. As a result, one of a pair of T-shaped projections 33, carried by the transfer belt 10, will move a bar across the ramp 50 while another bar carrying a film is located in position ready to be transported across the ramp 50 by the other projection 33 on the belt 10.

Any convenient means may be used for driving the belts and it is necessary only to drive one of the shafts to effect simultaneous rotation of the other shafts.

The apparatus previously described conveys sheets of sensitised material in succession through a plurality of processing tanks at a constant speed. This form of the apparatus is very suitable for processes which require that the material should pass quickly through the processing tanks. However, it is desirable that the apparatus should provide for the processing time in each tank to be of longer duration. This can be achieved by modifying the apparatus as shown in FIG. 8. The apparatus is generally similar to that previously described, but the T-shaped members carried by the transfer belts are arranged horizontally in line. Also the fork members which convey the rods through the tanks are arranged horizontally in line.

At the top of each tank is a pivoted and spring loaded deflecting member 56. When a rod 1 together with its trailing material reaches the deflecting member 56 the member moves the rod out of the adjacent fork member to rest on a guide member 57, where it remains stationary until it is engaged by the T-shaped member carried by transfer belt effecting the transfer of the rod to the next tank.

The arrangement thus allows rapid entry and exit of the material into and out of each tank and also provides for the material to remain submerged in a tank for a indefinite period of time which can be programmed by a suitable timing device.

It is to be understood that the modified apparatus may have any number of tanks according to requirements.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for processing photographic film or paper comprising a series of tanks in each of which a different process on the film or paper is performed, hanger bars for the suspension of the films or papers, a travelling endless belt in each tank having means for carrying the bars in succession through the tank, the means for carrying the hanger bars comprising oppositely disposed fork members, each bar being retained in said members by oppositely disposed guide members within each tank, and endless transfer belts each having means for engaging the bars in succession, after each has passed through a tank for transport to the next tank in which further processing of the film or paper carried by the bar is performed.

2. Apparatus for processing photographic film or paper comprising a series of tanks in each of which a different process on the film or paper is performed, hanger bars for the suspension of the films or papers, a travelling endless belt in each tank having means for carrying the bars in succession through the tank, endless transfer belts each having means for engaging the bars in succession, after e'ach has passed through a tank for transport to the next tank in which further processing of the film or paper carried by the bar is performed, and a spring loaded deflecting member disposed at the top of each tank and adapted to deflect each hanger bar onto a surface where the bar remains stationary so that the film or paper carried by the bar is wholly submerged in a tank for a period of time before being transported to the next tank.

3. Apparatus for processing photographic film or paper comprising a series of tanks in each of which a different process on the film or paper is performed which apparatus is characterized in that the film or paper is transported through the tank by means of belts, the belts passing over pulleys having cogs which engage with projections on the belts thereby assuring a positive drive for the belts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,667 5/1913 Gerhard 94 X 1,525,363 2/1925 Boyce 95-95 U X 2,927,503 3/1960 Zollinger 9594 X 3,087,406 4/ 1963 Dutch 95-94 SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Primary Examiner K. C. HUTCHISON, Assistant Examiner 

